UFAW Programmes
The Garden Bird Health Initiative
Established as a UFAW Working Group in 2003, the GBHi set out to:
- Develop and publish guidelines about how to best feed garden birds in order to maximize the benefits for their welfare and conservation;
- Undertake a major garden bird health surveillance and research project.
Thanks to generous sponsorship we have been able to make a very substantial start on surveillance and research into garden bird health. The necessary post mortem investigations and diagnostic tests are expensive (over £100 per bird examined) and we are urgently seeking further support to pursue this important work. If you would like to make a donation, this would be most gratefully received – please click here
A 32-page booklet Feeding Garden Birds: Best practice guidelines is now available, price £4.99 each. With colour photos throughout, the booklet reviews food types and feeding practices, discusses food quantity and quality, the siting and design of feeders, and outlines some common diseases and minimising the risks of their occurrence. You can order a copy here
Download the Press Release - Continued Disease Threat to British Garden Birds
Further information on the surveillance and research project
Disease outbreaks occur quite commonly in garden birds and the research, started in March 2005, is aimed at investigating their causes and prevention. This project is being coordinated by the Institute of Zoology, and also involves the collaboration of the Scottish Agricultural College, Liverpool University, the Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre, the British Trust for Ornithology, the RSPB and UFAW.
Garden birds, particularly finch species and house sparrows, are susceptible to a variety of conditions including infection with Salmonella bacteria or the Trichomonas parasite. Clinical signs (symptoms) can be very similar for different diseases and post mortem examination is required to confirm the cause of any garden bird mortality.
Further information on these conditions, including advice on disease prevention and control, is available in the factsheets below:
Download the GBHi Factsheet - Salmonellosis
Download the GBHi Factsheet - Trichomoniasis
If you are finding sick and dead garden birds, please help us monitor the spread and intensity of disease outbreaks by reporting your observation to the Garden Bird Health initiative Tel: 0207 449 6685 (Monday – Friday 09.00 -17.00 hrs).
Diagnosis of trichomoniasis in wild birds relies on post mortem examination. The GBHi recommends following sensible hygiene precautions as a routine measure when feeding garden birds, and to avoid handling sick or dead wild birds directly.
Download a copy of the GBHi Avian Influenza Fact Sheet - 18 January 2008
Press Releases
Download the Press Release - Continued Disease Threat to British Garden Birds
Download the Finch Fatalities Press Release - 14th September 2006
Download the Press Release Wildlife Team Launches Major Garden Bird Care Project
Feeding Garden Birds:
Best Practice Guidelines
32-page full colour booklet
how best to feed garden birds to maximize their welfare and conservation. £4.99 each.
The GBHi has been generously sponsored by:
- CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
- Gardman Ltd
- Cranswick Pet Products
- The Birdcare Standards Association
- The British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation
- The RSPB
- UFAW
Download a free copy of the GBHi leaflet on feeding garden birds here
You can help keep garden birds health
- find out about best practice feeding with the GBHi booklet
- participate in the garden bird surveillance programme. If you see signs of disease (eg: lethargy, fluffed-up plumage, inability to fly) or dead birds call 0207-449-6685 (Institute of Zoology)
- make a donation to the garden bird research project here
